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With a few swoops of a pen, Houma native Nate Frye’s lifelong dream came true this past week.
He’s now officially a professional basketball player.
Frye, a Houma Christian graduate and four-year standout at the University of New Orleans, inked a one-year deal this past week to begin his professional career with the Niagara River Lions in the National Basketball League, which is based in Canada.
The local said he will report to Canada in late-October and will begin play on Nov. 18.
He said the opportunity is something he’s longed for since he was a child – something he’s dreamed of his entire life.
“It’s exciting,” Frye said. “For the simple reason that this has been my dream since I started playing the game. My ultimate goal is the NBA and even though this isn’t the NBA, I’m finally at the point of being at the professional level and it just feels so amazing.”
Frye said a lot of things made the River Lions attractive to both he and his family. He called the situation a perfect fit.
Since finishing his eligibility at UNO, the standout guard has competed at several scouting camps and showcases around the country in an effort to impress scouts and generate interest from teams around the country.
In those camps, Frye has excelled and helped his stock immensely, even generating All-Tournament and All-League honors in some of the combines and showcases in which he competed.
Frye told The Times about two weeks ago that he had interest from teams literally around the globe and that he was going to take his time before making a final decision.
In the end, he said he liked Canada’s location and also that he will get NBA-level training while with the team.
“I’m very close in proximity to the United States,” Frye said. “It gives my family and fans a better opportunity to come and see me play.”
The River Lions are a rebuilding team – a team which finished just 14-26 last year.
But Frye is no stranger to that type of situation.
At Houma Christian, he helped build the Warriors’ foundation from a new-look athletic program to a powerhouse in Class 1A. At UNO, he helped do the same. When he landed in college, the Privateers were a bottom-tier program. His senior year, they had risen to the top, winning the Southland Conference and making it all the way to the NCAA Tournament.
“I think my college career really just showed me that literally anything is possible if you put in the time and the effort and you work through adversity,” Frye said before signing with the Canadian team. “When I got to UNO, I think a lot of people were really wondering if we could ever get back to that high level. You know, even last year when we were in first place, there were a lot of people sleeping on us and waiting for us to fall. All of the hard work, the practices, the blood, the sweat and the tears – they were all hard. But I think they all paid off.”
Frye said he plans to give that same type of relentless effort for his new team, adding that his head coach has NBA roots, which influenced his decision to sign with the team.
“Our head coach, Joe Raso, is a former NBA scout for the Denver Nuggets,” Frye said. “I have never been coached by anyone affiliated with the NBA in that manner. This will give me an opportunity to be coached and evaluated by a man with an NBA eye. I feel like this is extremely beneficial for where I want to get in my career.”
But Frye said the work is just beginning.
He said before going to Canada and while with the team, he plans to work tirelessly in the gym to make sure that he’s be the best player he can possibly be for his team.
Frye said he plans to work on his shooting stroke – something he said he’s always tinkering with and trying to improve on.
He also has other plans to become a better-rounded and gifted player throughout his run in Canada.
“The No. 1 thing that I always will be working on is my jumper,” Frye said. “I don’t think anyone should ever stop working to improve that. I would love to get to the basket, so making different finishes around the rim will be something I’m working on, as well. Most importantly, I’m also going to be making sure I can keep my cardio and my stamina at its peak, too.”
Competition in the NBL is stiff and several players in the league were either drafted by the NBA in their careers and/or have had opportunities to play in the league throughout their careers.
Last year’s top team, the London Lightning, were led by former NBA first-round pick, Royce White.
Frye hopes to be there someday, too – the latest underdog to rise through the international ranks and get to the highest level of play in the world.
Regardless of how his story ends, though, he said he’s grateful for its beginning – calling it one of the proudest moments of his life.
Frye said he plans to go to Canada and represent himself and the area in a way that will do us proud.
“I’m humbled at the fact that God allowed me to get to this point,” Frye said. “I could not get here without Him. I realize that there are so many players that wish they could have this opportunity, but God picked me. This is just the first step. I know He has greater things in store for me.”
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